Trust is indispensable yet it can be dangerous Without trusting others we cannot function in society or even stay alive for very long but being overly-trustful can be a bad strategy too Trust is pragmatic but it also has a moral dimension trustworthiness is a virtue & well-placed trust benefits us all In this Very Short Introduction Katherine Hawley explores the key ideas about trust & distrust Considerings questions such as ' Why do we value trust?' & Why do we want to be trusted rather than distrusted?' Hawley raises issues about the importance of trust in both the personal & public spheres including family & relationships as well as politics & society ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable